Abstract

Using the concept of ‘imprinting’, one of the key theoretical perspectives used in understanding the origin and evolution of firms, this paper examines how different ownership structures (founder-controlled versus investor-controlled) influences the channels used to recruit core team members and shape team characteristics and team tenure in young and growing entrepreneurial firms. Founder-controlled firms are those with majority share owned by founders/founding team and private investors; Investor-controlled firms are those with majority share owned by venture capital or corporate investors. These two groups utilize different channels (different types and strength of network ties, and market) to acquire their core team members. The respective type of ownership structure, along with the external conditions of environmental uncertainty, also influence on team characteristics such as size, functional diversity, team tenure and tenure diversity.

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